The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has today announced that Professor Mark Llewellyn, holder of the John Anderson Research Leadership Chair in English Studies in the School of Humanities at the University of Strathclyde, will be the AHRC’s new Director of Research.
Professor Llewellyn will begin his secondment to the AHRC as Director in January 2012 and his responsibilities will cover all areas of research activity, postgraduate funding, peer review, and international and Knowledge Exchange issues. He will remain a professor at Strathclyde during his term at the AHRC.
Speaking about the new role Professor Llewellyn said “I am delighted to take up the post of Director of Research at such a stimulating time. I’ve worked with many AHRC staff over recent years on a range of programmes, and I’m pleased to have this opportunity to join an enthusiastic and dedicated team in making a strong case for the distinctive contribution of arts and humanities research to the UK. I look forward in particular to new relationships with colleagues across the wide range of disciplines within the AHRC’s remit, engagement with the cultural and creative sectors, and collaboration with the growing number of our international partners.”
Prior to his role at Strathclyde Professor Llewellyn was senior lecturer in English and Director of Postgraduate Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Liverpool. He is a specialist in late Victorian literature and culture and has been involved in the AHRC’s work since 2007 when he became a member of the AHRC Peer Review College and has chaired a number of AHRC award panels.
Sir Alan Wilson, Chairman of the AHRC, said: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Professor Llewellyn to the AHRC. We are fortunate to be joined by someone with strong leadership skills and a passion for communicating the importance of the humanities in what is a key role for the Council."
Professor Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice Chancellor at the University of Strathclyde said:
“I am delighted that Mark has been appointed to a very senior post with one of the UK’s major research funders. He will bring a wealth of valuable experience to the post, both from his own research and his involvement in the training and development of early career researchers. I am also particularly pleased that he will remain a Professor at Strathclyde during his term with AHRC."
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Notes for Editors
AHRC Media contact: Jake Gilmore, Communications Manager, 01793 416021; j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk
Biographical summary: Professor Mark Llewellyn
Mark holds the John Anderson Research Leadership Chair in English Studies in the School of Humanities at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Prior to this he was senior lecturer in English and Director of Postgraduate Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Liverpool. A specialist in late Victorian literature and culture, especially the work of the Anglo-Irish writer George Moore, and also contemporary culture’s engagement with the nineteenth century through the genre of neo-Victorianism, Mark is the author or editor of four books (with three further forthcoming), five special journal issues, and over thirty book chapters and journal articles. He has been a member of the AHRC Peer Review College since 2007. In 2009 Mark chaired the Languages, Literatures and Linguistics Studentship Panel, served as a Collaborative Doctoral Award Panellist in 2010, and chaired the Block Grant Partnership Capacity Building Panel in 2011. Recently he has been a member of both the Care for the Future and Block Grant Partnership 2 Advisory Groups at the AHRC, and a Connected Communities Scoping Studies and Research Reviews award holder. Mark has served the wider academic community as Secretary of the British Association for Victorian Studies (BAVS), which has over 700 members worldwide, and through editorial board positions with a number of journals and book series.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £100 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes hundreds of research awards ranging from individual fellowships to major collaborative projects as well as over 1,100 studentship awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.
The University of Strathclyde: Since its foundation in 1796, the University of Strathclyde’s vision as a ‘place of useful learning’ has led the way in connecting new ideas to the solution of problems facing society, and producing high quality graduates ready for leadership and the professions. Today, the University is recognised as one of the UK’s leading international technological universities, and prides itself on partnership with the public and private sectors. Its bold vision is to transform research, education and knowledge exchange to deliver useful learning for the technological age. More at www.strath.ac.uk